A World We Women and Girls Want: Technology enabled Social and Economic Advancement

[9 March 2023]

Statement by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj

Permanent Representative of India to the UN

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Hon’ble Minister Smt Smriti Irani Ji,

Smt. Rita Menon Ji,

Excellencies,

Esteemed Speakers

Distinguished Participants,

We are indeed delighted to partner once again with the All India Women's Education Fund Association in organizing today’s special event. We deeply appreciate the work being done by you in the sphere of women’s empowerment and gender equity.

We are deeply privileged to have in our midst Her Excellency Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development of India, who will deliver the Keynote Address. Her activism serves always to inspire and motivate.

I also thank the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Ms Anita Bhatia, and the distinguished Permanent Representatives from Palau, Sweden and St. Vincent and Grenadines in joining us for this important event. I thank you all and greatly look forward to your insights.

Colleagues,

The ancient civilizational values and cultural ethos of India have taught us to recognize gender equality and the empowerment of women as one of the key tenets of our society. We are also guided by the leadership of our Prime Minister who has been instrumental in highlighting the importance of these issues, through impactful campaigns such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’. Programmes such as ‘Digital India’ and ‘MyGov Platform’ have become phenomenal success stories in the last 9 years, in creating a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

The Government of India has also taken numerous citizen-centric digital initiatives with a greater focus to enable access for women to finance, credit, technology and employment. These initiatives have focused on providing immediate assistance to women in distress, preventing violence against women, and promoting women’s full and equal participation in every sphere of society.

For instance, the Government of India has opened bank accounts for over 482 million people, of which more than 55 percent of account holders were women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative helped in direct benefit transfer to nearly 200 million women.

Three, women entrepreneurs have never had it so good! The Government of India is taking proactive measures to encourage women entrepreneurs to get online and expand their access to the market. The use of digital technologies has been a game changer in this context. As just one example, women entrepreneurs are connected directly to the market through the Government e-Marketplace and the Mahila e-Haat, bolstering the same with easier operations for a seamless experience.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Even as this rapid transformation continues apace, none of this is possible - neither sustainable development nor inclusive and peaceful societies - without gender equality. And without embracing technology which is gender sensitive, we cannot achieve gender equality.

Importantly also, we must ensure that the digital world should provide an open, equal and safe information and communications technology environment for women and girls.

One final word, Ladies and Gentlemen.

We, in India have been shaped by the idea of “Shakti”, the divine feminine strength and energy that creates the world. Our history, both ancient and contemporary, holds numerous examples of strong women role models. As a nation, today, we strongly believe that the progress of women is the basis for the empowerment of the nation.

I once again thank the organisers, AIWEFA, for bringing us together to share our thoughts on this very important theme. I am sure that today’s exchange will help us in reflecting upon our policies to achieve a technology-enabled social and economic empowerment and advancement for women and girls.

Warm congratulations to the AIWEFA!

Thank you!

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